Push-button operated tuner

ABSTRACT

A push button operated tuner is provided with a plurality of mutuner elements arranged parallel to each other in a common plane and a plurality of axially movable cores arranged for simultaneous movement into and out of the mu-tuner elements. A manually rotatable adjustor is provided for adjusting the core elements relative to the push button stems and an operator segment on each stem may be angularly adjusted relative to the stem to vary the movement of the cores into the mu-tuner elements upon movement of a push button. The push button stems are arranged in an alternating manner with the mu-tuner elements in a common plane to reduce the vertical height of the unit.

Umted States Patent 1191 1 3,737,817 Ashida et al. June 5, 1973 [54]PUSH-BUTTON OPERATED TUNER 2,875,620 3 1959 Heselwood .334 7 x [75]lnventors: Takashi Ashida; Teigi Sasagawa; zi z et 3 P Akashli 3:415:129l2/l968 Stam m: $11334 x g l g E i; Momk" 3,503,270 3 1970 01138111 .L.334 7 x o o 0 yo, a o apan [73] Assignees: Fujitsu Limited,Kanagawa-ken; Primary P Rolinec Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd" Tokyo,Assistant Examiner-Saxfield Chatmon, Jr. Japan Attorney-Sughrue,Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak [21] Appl- 91,426 A push button operatedtuner is provided with a plurality of mu-tuner elements arrangedparallel to each 30 Foreign Application priority Data other in a commonplane and a plurality of axially movable cores arranged for simultaneousmovement NOV. 20,1969 Japan ..44/92654 into and out of the mu tunerelements- A manually NOV. 20,1969 Japan rotatable adjustor is p i d foradjusting the core elements relative to the push button stems and an 5%operator segment on each stem may be angularly ad- J 3 74 justedrelative to the stem to vary the movement of 1 0 the cores into themu-tuner elements upon movement of a push button. The push button stemsare arranged [56] References cued in an alternating manner with themu-tuner elements UNITED STATES PATENTS in a common plane to reduce thevertical height of the unlt. 3,596,217 7/1971 Chesney..... 2,651,3979/1953 Miller ..334/7 X 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 36 79 so 30b PatentdJune 5, 1973 3,737,817

2 Sheets-She t 1 FIG. I

m WWW Patented June 5, 1973 3,737,817

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PUSH-BUTTON OPERATED TUNER This invention relates toimprovements in and relating to push button-operated tuners.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved pushbutton-operated tuner, capable of provid-. ing an unique operationalmode.

A further object is to provide a push button-operated tuner having aconsiderably reduced overall thickness thereof than that of theconventional type similar tuner.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent when read the following detailed description of theinvention by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative of asubstantially preferred embodiment of the invention in comparison with acomparative conventional tuner.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional push buttonoperated tuner,partially broken away for demonstrating several inner working parts in amore clear way.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken substantially along asection line II II shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar view to FIG. 1, illustrative of the sole embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along a section line IVIV shown inv FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a link connection employed in the embodimentshown in FIG. 3.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, acomparative conventional push buttonoperated tuner will be described indetail.

In these figures, numeral 1 represents generally a stationary casingframe and a plurality of push buttons commonly shown by a singlereference numeral 2, having each an elongated stem 2a rigidly attachedthereto, are slidably mounted in the frame 1, with the buttons 2 being,however, positioned outside of the front wall 1a of the frame 1. Morespecifically, the front wall la is formed a corresponding number ofopenings 27 through said stems 2a slidably pass. The free end 25 of thestem 2a is formed into an angular hook, as maybe supposed by a dottedline, which is fixedly attached with outer end of a coil spring 26, theopposite end of the latter being fixedly attached to the inner end of astationary rod 4 which is attached at its root or outer end in turnfixedly to the rear wall lb of said casing frame 1. In this way, thepush button assembly 2;2a is urged resiliently towards itsoff-serviceposition shown. For positioning these push button assembliesin their off-service position, each of the stem 2a is provided so as toengage with an intermediate wall 1c of easing frame 1. 7

At a higher level than that where the push bottons 2 are positioned, aplurality of mu-tuner elements 3 of conventional design are arranged ina common plane and in a physical parallelism one after apother andmounted fixedly on said casing frame 1. These tuner elements 3 areconnected, however, electrically in series one after another.

A rotatable frame, generally shown at 5, and comprising an upper bar 5aand a lower bar 5b arranged in parallel to each other and .a pair ofside plates 5c acting as connecting members for rigidly connecting theboth side neighboring ends of these bars, is rotatably mounted on thecasing frame 5. For this purpose, each of the side plates is providedwith a pivot pin 24. The push botton stems 2a passes through therotatable frame 5 and between the upper and lower bars 50 and 5bthereof.

Rotor 8 comprising a gear 6 positioned inside of the casing frame and adisc 7 is rotatably mounted on the casing frame 1, said disc beingpositioned outside of the casing frame and at a separated distancetherefrom. A clutch element 10 is mounted axially slidably andrelatively rotatablly on the rotor 8, said clutch element 10 comprises acrown gear 9 and is formed with a circular groove 8a. Disc 7 acts as anopposite clutch element and is kept normally in pressure contact withthe movable clutch element constituted by the crown gear 9 through arubber ring 11, which is attached thereto, thereby providing incombination a clutch unit 12.

The casing frame 1 is formed with an extension 13 which mounts rotatablya manually rotatable adjusting shaft 14 operatively connected through auniversal joint 15 with a pinion shaft 17. A pinion 16 is formed on thefree or opposite end of the shaft 17 and kept always in engagement ofthe teeth of crown gear 9.

A segmental gear 18 is attached concentrically to and fixedly with therotatable frame 5 and kept in meshing with said gear 6.

Thus, it will be seen that by rotation of the adjusting shaft 14 in oneor other direction, motion is transmitted therefrom through universaljoint 15 to pinion shaft 17, thence through pinion 16 to crown gear 9.Since the crown gear 9 is kept in pressure engagement with disc 7,motion is further transmitted from the gear 9 through disc 7 and gears 6and 18 to the rotatable frame 5, thus the latter being rotated about itspivot pins 24 correspondingly in one or another direction, as the casemay be.

Slide 19 is mounted in the casing frame 1 so as to be shiftable up ordown in FIG. 1. For this operation, the rotatable frame 5 ismechanically connected to the slide 19 through a mechanical linkage,although not shown for simplicity. Thus, rotation of the frame 5 willcause a corresponding upward or downward shifting of the slide 19 whenseen in FIG. 1. I

To the slide 19, concentric inner cores 20 of the mutuner elements 3 arefixedly attached, each of said tuner element comprises a stationarybobbin 22 on which a coil 21 is wound as known per se. Electrically,

these coils 21 are connected in series one after another. From the thusprovided coil assembly, a plurality of taps, commonly denoted by asingle numeral 29 are led I out and electrically connected by respectiveleads, not

shown, to properly selected points in a certain radio frequencyamplifier, not shown.

By pressing-in any selected one of the push-buttons 2 which arepositioned at a lower level than that of the mu-tuner elements 3, apositioning piece 23 mounted on each of the stems 2a is brought intoengagement with a part of the casing frame 1, thereby the related core20 being positioned at a predetermined position relative to the relatedcoil 21, so as to provide, in cooperation with the coil 21 and bobbin22, a certain mu value for best reception of radio waves broadcast froma radio station destined for the selected and pushed-in push button. Forother push buttons, the operation is similar to that which has been setforth hereinabove, for selecting out respectively destined broadcaststations.

Recently, the automotive dash board is so designed in consideration ofsafety codes and regulations that pads and the like cushioning materialsare filled in the idle space thereof, thus the available effective spacebeing reduced to a highly limited one, while car cooler, car stereo andthe like various aux. machines and instruments should be fitted on thedash board of the car.

From these reasons, the car radio-receiving set must have its overallheight or thickness must be reduced to a possible minimum.

However, with the conventional arrangement of mutuner elements bank andpush button bank at different levels, the required reduction in overallheight or thickness of the tuner assembly could not practicallyrealized, since a reduction in the thickness of the push button bank perse can not be realized from technical reasons such as reduced mechanicalstrength and shortened durable life. This is applied to the tunerelements bank per se on account of a possible reduction of itselectrical performance and efficiency, as well as an increaseddifficulty in the workmanship in the manufacture and assembly job of theconstituents parts.

As will become more apparent as the description proceeds, it is possibleby adopting the novel teachings of the invention to provide a highlyimproved and efficient tuner assembly capable of substantially obviatingthe aforementioned various conventional drawbacks, for providing asubstantially changed smart appearance with improved operationalefficiency from the mechanical as well as electrical viewpoints. Theoverall height or thickness of the tuner assembly according to thisinvention amounts substantially a half or less when compared those ofcomparative conventional tuners.

Next referring to FIGS. 3-4, a preferred embodiment of the inventionwill now be described in detail.

In these figures, numeral 30 represents a stationary casing frame whichis substantially similar to that shown at 1 in the foregoing.

As in the similar way, a plurality of, five in the present specificembodiment, push buttons 34 are provided each having an elongated stem36 rigidly attached to the respective push button 34. The thus providedpush button bank 35 is slidably mounted in the casing frame 30 as beforeand as conventionally. The front wall and the rear wall of the casingframe are shown at 30a and 30b, respectively.

A terminal board 61 made of an insulating material is attached fixedly,yet detachably to the rear casing wall 30b, by means of several fixingscrews 62, FIG. 4, said board 61 being fitted with a number of taps 63the purpose and function of which are same as before as described in theforegoing with reference to those denoted 29. Hollow cylindrical coilbobbins 31 are attached fixedly glueing or the like conventional fixingprocedure on the front or inside surface of said insulator board 61 acoil 31a being wound as conventionally on each of the bobbins 31. Anouter cylindrical core member and an outermost hollow cylindrical sheathare provided around each of said eoil-and-bobbin assembly 31; 31a whichis fixedly mounted on an intermediate wall 30c of said casing frame 30,although not shown specifically on account of its very popularity. Thethus provided tuner elements bank is shown generally by a singlereference numeral 50.

A ferrite core 32 is provided so as to telescopically cooperate witheach of said coil-and-bobbin assemblies 31;31a. Each of the thusprovided tuner element including said bobbin, coil, outer core,outermost sheath and adjustable innermost ferrite core 32 is denoted bya common reference numeral 33, said ferrite core 32 being fixedlymounted on a slider mounted slidably on the casing frame 30. As may bewell see, the axial plane of the tuner elements bank 50 and that of thepush button bank 35 are positioned on an imaginary common plane.Although not shown, the intermediate wall 300 is properly perforated forallowing the entrance of the innermost ferrite into the bore of saidcoil bobbin for performing an adjustable cooperation between the two.

A spring 38 is attached with its one end to the tip 36a of each of thepush button stem 36, while the opposite end of the latter is attached tothe intermediate wall 30c of the casing frame 30, thereby each of thepush buttons 34 together with its stem 36 being normally positioned inits off-service position as in the foregoing. For providing each of thepush button assembly, especially the stem thereof, with the possibilityfor moving between its outer off-service position shown and the inner,pushed-in operating position, said intermediate wall 300 is properlyperforated, although not specifically shown. As seen, each of the pushbutton stems 36 is positioned at an intermediate position betweenneighboring two mu-tuner elements 33.

A pivotable frame 37 comprising a pair of parallel arrangement of upperbar 39 and lower bar 40 and side plates 37a connecting the correspondingends of these bars rigidly as before, is pivotably mounted in the easingframe 30 by means of two pivots 71, although only right-hand one of themis shown in FIG. 3. Between the upper and lower bars 39 and 40, whenseen in the elevational view shown in FIG. 4, the bank of push buttonstems 36 and the bank of innermost and movable ferrite cores 32 beingpositioned in an imaginary common horizontal plane. The positioning ofthe upper and lower bars 39 and 40 is so selected that they have ampleidle gaps from the ferrite cores 32 and push button stems 36 foravoiding otherwise possible mechanical interference with the everypivotal movement of the pivotable frame 37 in spite of the arrangementof the ferrite cores in the common axial plane with the push buttonstems.

In practice, the left-hand side plate of the pivotable frame 37 isformed into a segmental gear 41 or, the side plate under considerationcan be connected to a gear. This segmental gear 41 is in permanentmeshing with a gear 77. A pin 73 extends horizontally form the segmentalgear 41 and an inner tooth type segmental gear 74 is fixed onto the freeend of the pin 73. Since gear 74 is only shown in its plan view in FIG.3, the inner teeth are not shown but are constantly in mesh with gear 51which is integral with disc 52 to constitute a rotor 99. This rotor 99corresponds to that shown at 8 in the foregoing. Members 51 and 52correspond to those denoted 6 and 7 in the foregoing. A movable clutchelement 53 is comprised of a crown gear 42, a rubber ring 72 fixedlyattached thereto as before and a cylindrical sleeve 43 concentricallymounted on the rotor 99.

Casing frame 30 is formed with an extension 55 having a substantially aZ-shape and an adjusting shaft 44 similar to that shown at 14 in theforegoing is rotatably mounted on that extension 55. This shaft 44 isconnected through an universal joint 45 to a pinion shaft 57 having apinion 56 rigidly formed thereon and kept in permanent engagement withthe crown gear 42, in the similar way as before.

Segmental gear 41 is kept in meshing with a gear 77 I which is madeintegral with a lever 79 by means of a pin being pivotably mounted on aside plate 58 of said casing frame 30. Slider 70 having an elongatedL-shape when seen in FIG. 3 is formed with a horizontally and outwardlyextending extension 101 which is perforated near its tip end so as toreceive relatively slidably a guide rod 102 extending from upper tolower in FIG. 3 and fixedly attached with its both ends to the front andrear walls 30a and 30b.

Arm 70a of the slider 70 is formed with an elongated I a guide bar 102'as in the similar way at the left-hand end of the slider relative to theguide bar 102, although not specifically shown and described.

Lever 79 is linked at 80 with one end of a link member 58, the latterbeing linked at its opposite end in turn at 110 with the slider 70. Atthe right-hand end of the slider, the latter is linkedly connected withthe pivot-' able frame 37, although the link connection at this side isnot specifically shown and described for avoiding a double descriptionof a similar mechanism.

The upper end of lever 89 is linked at 91 with a link member 90 which isfurther linked at 92 with an intermediate link 93. This link 93 ispivotably connected at 103 with said bell crank lever 85, as is mostclearly seen from FIG. 5.

On the front wall 30a, a guide rail 95 is fixedly mounted and a pin 96formed on the lower end of lever 89 is slidably guided there'along.

A positioning member 60 is pivotably mounted at 60a on an intermediatepoint of each of the push button stem 36 between its both extremities.

The operation of the tuner assembly so far shown and described byreference to FIGS. 3-5 is as follows.

As commonly known, the five push buttons 34 are attributed respectivecertain five local radio desired to receive the broad cast waves from acertain radio station attributed to, for instance, the left-hand one ofthe push buttons 34, this specific button is pushed-in from itsoff-service position shown to its somewhat advanced operating positionas is commonly known.

In this way, the related stem 36 is advanced from right to left in FIG.4, with the positioning member 60 fixed at a certain rotational anglerelative to the central axis of the stem. As seen, and as a preferredembodiment of the positioning member 60, the latter is formed into asemicircular shape and the straight edge part directing forward so as toprovide a specifically selected inclined angle relative to the stemaxis, as above set forth.

With advancing movement of the push button stem 36, the positioningmember 60 is brought by its forward straight edge into engagement withthe upper and lower bars 39 and 40, thereby these bars being normallyrotated about the axis common to the pivot pins 71 and 73 until theywill represent an inclination relative to the stem axis which is equalto the inclination of said straight edge.

Naturally, the pivotable frame 37 as a whole will perform the samepivotable movement carried out by the twobars 39 and 40 thereof v Uponperforming this operation, finger pressure is released from the pushbutton 34 under consideration.

Then the push button will go back to its original offservice positionunder the influence of the related return spring 38. I

With the pivotable movement of the frame 37, motion istransmitted fromsegmental gear 41a through gear 77, lever 79,.link 58 and pivot 110 tothe slider which is thus shifted along guide bars 102 and 102 in theadvancing or receding direction, as the case may be depending upon thedirection of the pivotal movement of the frame 37. More specifically,the slider 70 will be advanced with clockwise rotation of the frame 37.

Since all the cores 32 are fixedly attached by its core rods 32aappearing directly therebelow in FIG. 3 to the slider 70, these coresare advanced or receded equal amount to the said sliding movement of theslider 70. In this way, the value of mu which means the mutualconductance between the related movable inner core 32 and the stationaryouter core-coil assembly contained in the tuner element 33, so as toobtain the desired tuning to the specifically selected radio frequency.I

In the similar manner, any one of the remaining push buttons 34 can bemanipulated for reception of the radio program broadcast from theattributed radio station. 1 1 t With the clutch unit 54 coupled asshown, a reverse action would'be feared by reverse transmission ofmotion from the slider to the adjusting shaft. But, with push-inoperation, motion is transmitted from the button stem 36 through acertain conventional cam means, not shown, to a clutch lever 180 so asto pivot it in clockwise direction against the action of spring 182,said lever 180 being kept in engagement with a circular groove 181formed on the clutch element 53 substantially in the similar mannershown at 8a in FIG. 1. Thus, the movable clutch element 53 is slidablyshifted axially in the right-hand direction in FIG. 3, so as todisengage the clutch unit 54. Since this kind of clutch structure andoperation is highly popular in conventional various car tuners, thedetailed description thereof may be omitted without sacrifice of betterunderstanding of the nature of the invention.

For presetting service, the push button, for instance the mostright-hand one, is pulled out from the shown off-service position.Although not specifically described hereinbefore, the stem 36 has a rootstem part 136 (see FIG. 3) which is movable axially a certain smalldistancerelative to the stem proper 36. For this purpose, the stemproper 36 is formed with an axially elongated slot, not shown, withwhich one arm a of a hook-shaped cam member 75 fixedly mounted on theroot stem part 136 is kept in slidable engagement. A substantiallyelongated Z-bar 178 is pivoted at its upper end when seen in FIG. 3 bymeans ofa pivot means 177 and at its lower end kept in pressure contactwith the cam member 75 under the spring action of an elongated springstrip 176 which is equally attached at its upper end, FIG. 3, to thestem 36 at 177.

With draw-out of the button 34, the stem root part 136 togethertherewith is drawn out a certain small distance from the position shown,until the cam member 75 has been mechanically separated from contactwith the free end 76 of Z-bar 178. Thus, the upper end, FIG. 3, of Z-bar178 is somewhat loosened from its normally tight-engagement with theneighboring positioning member 60. The common pin to the member 60,Z-bar 178 and spring strip 176 is shown at 60a in FIG. 4. In this way,the lock for the member 60 is released, and thus the latter is free torotate relative to the stem 36.

By manual turning of the adjusting shaft 44, motion is transmitted toslider 70 in the similar way in connection with the conventional tunershown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the slider is shifted as desired forwardor backwards to the desired degree for fine adjustment of the value ofmu. Upon completion of this mu-adjusting operation with the positioner60 kept in its lockreleased position, the related push button 34 kept inits extended or pull-out state, is pushed in. With advance movement ofthe extended push-released positioner 60 is brought into the bars 39 and40 so as to occupy a newly adjusted or inclined position. With furtherexerting a push-in finger force to the related button 34, the latter isbrought into shown contracted state by advancing the root stem part 136relative to the stem proper 36. In this way, the positioner 60 is lockedat its now adjustedly inclined position relative to the stem proper, andso on.

By arranging the button bank 35 and the mu-tuner elements bank 33 on acommon imaginary plane in this case, the mu-adjusting operation throughthe push button can be performed with substantially higher accuracy,because there is almost none of rotary movements duringmotion-transmission from button to ferrite core 32. In addition, ahighly ecomized space requirement can be attained.

By the sliding shift of slider 70, motion is transmitted therefromthrough 83-84-8Sa-8S-93-92-90-91-9- 4-87 to the indicator lever 89 so asto show the occasionally adjusted and selected out position of the tunerby the pointer 96 which cooperates a frequency display dial, not shown,but in a highly known way.

What is claimed is:

l. A push button operated tuner assembly comprising a frame, a pluralityof mu-tuner elements mounted parallel to each other in a common plane onsaid frame, a plurality of core means slidably mounted on said plane forsimultaneous movement relative to said elements for cooperationtherewith, a plurality of push buttons slidably mounted on said framefor individual movement, each of said push buttons having a stem portiondisposed parallel to and arranged alternately with respect to saidelements ina common plane therewith and connecting meansoperativelydisposed between said stems and said core means for movingsaid core means relative to said elements upon movement of said pushbuttons, said connecting means being comprised of a positioning memberadjustably secured to each stem and transmission means for transmittingmovement from each positioning member to said core means, saidtransmission means being comprised of gear means common to each of saidpositioning members for selective rotation by a positioning member uponoperation of a selected push button, common operating slider meanssecured to said core means for simultaneously moving said core means andlinkage means operatively connected between said gear means and saidslider means for moving said slider means and core means in response toa selected rotation of said gear means by a selected positioning member.

2. A push button operated tuner assembly as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising pivoted means adapted to be engaged by each of saidpositioning members, said gear means comprising a first gear secured tosaid pivoted means for rotation upon pivotal movement of said pivotedmeans and a second gear disposed in mesh with said first gear andconnected to said linkage means for transmitting the pivotal movement ofsaid pivoted member to said linkage means.

3. A push button operated tuner assembly as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising manually rotatable adjustment means for adjusting theposition of said core means relative to said elements to assist inadjustment of each positioning member relative to its respective pushbutton stem.

1. A push button operated tuner assembly comprising a frame, a pluralityof mu-tuner elements mounted parallel to each other in a common plane onsaid frame, a plurality of core means slidably mounted on said plane forsimultaneous movement relative to said elements for cooperationtherewith, a plurality of push buttons slidably mounted on said framefor individual movement, each of said push buttons having a stem portiondisposed parallel to and arranged alternately with respect to saidelements in a common plane therewith and connecting means operativelydisposed between said stems and said core means for moving said coremeans relative to said elements upon movement of said push buttons, saidconnecting means being comprised of a positioning member adjustablysecured to each stem and transmission means for transmitting movementfrom each positioning member to said core means, said transmission meansbeing comprised of gear means common to each of said positioning membersfor selective rotation by a positioning member upon operation of aselected push button, common operating slider means secured to said coremeans for simultaneously moving said core means and linkage meansoperatively connected between said gear means and said slider means formoving said slider means and core means in response to a selectedrotation of said gear means by a selected positioning member.
 2. A pushbutton operated tuner assembly as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising pivoted means adapted to be engaged by each of saidpositioning members, said gear means comprising a first gear secured tosaid pivoted means for rotation upon pivotal movement of said pivotedmeans and a second gear disposed in mesh with said first gear andconnected to said linkage means for transmitting the pivotal movement ofsaid pivoted member to said linkage means.
 3. A push button operatedtuner assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising manuallyrotatable adjustment means for adjusting the position of said core meansrelative to said elements to assist in adjustment of each positioningmember relative to its respective push button stem.